SESSION DESCRIPTION: Career professionals deserve to be influential in helping lifelong learners navigate increasingly frequent transitions. We need tools that promote clarification of career and life choices, employee engagement and designing a life of purpose. Sample and appreciate the face-to-face Who You Are Matters! game and online narrative storytelling tools, successfully used in education, organizations and practice, which illuminate ‘life design’ principles and ‘technology mediated reflection.’
Mark Franklin (MEd, CCC, CMF) leads CareerCycles, a career management social enterprise with 3500 plus clients, and 250 licensees of its narrative method of practice. Mark developed Who You Are MATTERS! work / life alignment game and hosts Career Buzz radio.

Jayne Greene-Black (M.A.) is an experienced career counsellor, educator, university learning disability career specialist, and CareerCycles Associate. With over 30 years of experience, she has assisted thousands of career planners to clarify and reach educational, career, and life dreams.

Angie Bjorson (CHRP, HNCP) is a Human Resources Professional and CareerCycles Associate with experience in organizations, education management and recruiting in public and private post-secondary, associations, talent agencies and service industry.

January 7, 2015

Hear the career stories of lawyer-turned-novelist Kate Hilton, and social-worker-turned-tour-leader Michael Kerman.

Law wasn’t ‘it’ for Kate Hilton. But novel writing didn’t look like it would pan out either — until her first book ‘The Hole in the Middle,’ was picked up as Walmart’s read-of-the-month. Michael Kerman loves leading his trips to Cuba, a third career after social work and training entrepreneur.

#2forTO asks, what two things you can do to make Toronto better? One of my answers: sharing inspiring and local career stories! Hear Kate and Michael’s stories!

“On the road there’s a lot of off time,” former touring-musician, Mike Kirsh, told Career Buzz listeners (Dec. 31, 2014), and that’s when his side projects began to fill the gap. After shooting video during the day, Mike, the bass player, said, “I picked up the camera and just started editing on the bus. I’d create whatever I wanted like a fun little tour blog.”

When his band, The Midway State, folded, Mike said he worked productively with a career counsellor who helped him intentionally explore video editing as a career possibility. A ‘field research’ meeting with a contact led to a first contract with Lightbox Video where Mike is now happily employed on the SessionsX series. How do the clues apply to you? The seeds of your next career move are likely already planted — in your side projects. Mike said, “I didn’t think I could make a career out of my hobby,” but he did. Look at your side projects — whether it’s knitting or kite boarding or cycling or gaming — and ask yourself, ‘What are the clues in this activity that may lead me in new directions?’ Then, take inspired action and follow the clues!

Hear the whole interview also featuring Sean Fitzpatrick on the three kinds of employee engagement, and Wendy Woods on emotional intelligence in the workplace.

Need help moving in new directions in 2015 for you or someone you care about? Get started with an exploratory consultation! Tell Jennifer you read this edition of Watch for Clues and save 20 bucks on an exploratory consultation that you book in January.

December 31, 2014

Hear the career story of touring-musician-turned-video-editor. Plus, learn the 3 kinds of employee engagement.

Mike Kirsh played bass for The Midway State, touring and producing records for six years. What happens when you want to leave music? Hear Mike’s journey to satisfying work as a video editor. Plus, hear Sean Fitzpatrick of Talent Map on the three kinds of employee engagement, and Wendy Woods of Watershed Training on emotional intelligence in the workplace. Both spoke at the recent Your Workplace conference where I was your Career Buzz correspondent, collecting seven inspiring interviews — hear the first five here.

Naguib Gouda had been working in financial services while at the same time volunteering for non-profits on the side. But, as he told Career Buzz listeners (Dec. 10, 2014), “what I was doing was not enough.” Then, 12 years ago when his daughter was six months old, Naguib said, “she gave me courage to make that career change” into meaningful work in the non-profit sector. How?

Naguib shared this valuable perspective: “If someday in the future she comes to me and says, ‘Hey dad, I’m not happy doing what I’m doing. What should I do?’ I could be the bitter old man who says, ‘don’t make the same mistake that I did.’ Or I could lead by example, and tell her that’s what I did when she was six months old and it worked, and it’s been fantastic.” Twelve years ago Naguib switched to the not-for-profit sector where he’s been in leadership positions ever since, and loving it, now president of Career Edge.

Hear the whole interview (Naguib’s story at 11:30) also featuring Syndey Helland of Career Edge and coach/author Karen Wright.